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Loose leaf vs tea bags: which should you choose?
We sell both, so we're not here to tell you one is always better. Each has a place in the cupboard. Here's an honest look at flavour, cost per cup, convenience and waste, so you can pick the right one for you, or for the person you're buying for.
The short answer
- Choose tea bags if you want quick, tidy, no-fuss cups at home, at work or on the go.
- Choose loose leaf if you want the fullest flavour, the best value per cup, or enjoy making tea a bit of a ritual.
Plenty of tea lovers keep both: bags for busy mornings, loose leaf for slow weekends.
Side by side
| Tea bags | Loose leaf | |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Good, and very consistent | Fuller and more aromatic, as whole leaves and flowers have room to open |
| Convenience | Easiest: drop in, steep, lift out | Needs an infuser, strainer or teapot |
| Cups per pouch (ours) | 15 bags, up to 30 cups with a second steep | 50g, around 40–60 cups |
| Cost per cup (ours) | About 27–63p, depending on whether you get one or two cups from a bag | About 17–30p |
| Control over strength | Fixed amount per bag | Use more or less to suit you |
| Re-steeping | Usually one good extra cup | Often 2–3 more cups, especially green teas |
| Waste | Our bags are biodegradable | Just leaves: straight on the compost |
| Best for | Work, travel, quick cups, beginners | Home, teapots, gifts, flavour lovers |
Does loose leaf really taste better?
Often, yes, and it's easy to see why. Most tea bags hold smaller pieces of leaf, which brew quickly but release their flavour all at once. Whole camomile flowers or full peppermint leaves have more of their natural oils intact. In a teapot or a roomy infuser they unfold slowly and give a rounder, more aromatic cup.
That said, a well-filled bag of good herbs makes a lovely cup, and it's far better than loose leaf that's been brewed in a cramped infuser with no space to open. If you go loose, give the leaves room.
Is loose leaf cheaper?
Per cup, usually yes. Our 50g loose leaf pouches make around 40 to 60 cups, so they work out cheaper per cup than our 15-bag pouches. You'll need an infuser or teapot to start with, but that's a one-off cost.
Which is better for the planet?
Loose leaf has the edge: there's nothing to throw away but the leaves, which can go straight on the compost or in your food waste bin. Bags are the next best thing when they're plastic-free. Some tea bags are sealed with plastic, which is why we use biodegradable bags for ours. Whichever you choose, our pouches reseal to keep the tea fresh.
How to brew loose leaf (it's easy)
- Measure: one heaped teaspoon per 200–250ml cup. Use a little more for light, fluffy herbs like camomile flowers.
- Choose your brewer: a basket infuser that sits in the mug, a small teapot with a strainer, or a cafetière works well. Avoid tiny tea balls, which squash the leaves.
- Steep: herbal teas take freshly boiled water and 5 minutes or more. Green teas need cooler water and much less time (see our sencha and hojicha guides).
- Strain and enjoy, then put the leaves on the compost.
Try both: our tea bags
…and our loose leaf
Quick answers
Can I cut open a tea bag and use it as loose leaf?
You can, but the small pieces will slip through most strainers. It's easier to brew the bag as it is.
How long does loose leaf tea keep?
Stored sealed, away from light, heat and strong smells, herbal teas keep their flavour for many months. Check the best before date on the pouch.
Which should I give as a gift?
Tea bags suit almost anyone. Loose leaf is a lovely upgrade for someone who already loves tea, especially with an infuser. See our Christmas tea gift guide for ideas.
